All Chapters of The 900 Billion Dollar Heir: Chapter 141
- Chapter 150
189 chapters
Chapter One Hundred and Forty One - Stunned
Later that evening, Catherine found Duane alone in his office.She closed the door quietly behind her."Was that the right decision?" she asked. "Removing John completely?"Duane looked up from his desk. "There's no room for betrayal in our organization.""But he was a founder. He helped build everything—""And then he worked against us. There's no redemption for that kind of disloyalty."Catherine studied his face carefully. "You sound certain.""I am certain. John had no reason to betray us except greed and fear. Those are the weakest reasons."Catherine didn't argue further, recognizing that Duane's decision was final.She left his office and Duane sat alone with his thoughts.Minutes later, he made a decision.He pulled out his phone and called John.John answered immediately, his voice desperate and panicked."Duane, please. We can work something out. I made mistakes but I can fix this—""I'm offering you a deal," Duane said calmly."What kind of deal?""Your companies back. All
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Two - Borders
After the press conference, Catherine and Alfred waited for Duane to explain the logistics announcement.He offered no explanation other than a simple statement."You should trust me."That was all he said before leaving them standing in the auditorium.Catherine and Alfred exchanged confused glances, but neither pressed further.Duane had made his position clear through action, not words.Duane returned home as evening fell across the city.He walked through the front door and found his mother in the living room, reading.Their greetings were cold and curt, a far cry from the warmth that used to characterize their interactions."How was the press conference?" his mother asked without looking up."Successful.""That's good."The conversation ended there, replaced by uncomfortable silence.Duane went upstairs, leaving his mother to her book.Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Maya finally confronted her mother about something that had been weighing on her for weeks."Do you remember when Duane
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Three - Consciousness
That night, close to midnight, Leon traced John's whereabouts to an abandoned private airfield at the edge of the city.The location data showed movement, a signal still transmitting from John's phone.Leon assembled a small team of trusted operatives and headed to the airfield immediately.When they arrived, the runway was empty, surrounded by darkness and silence.But nearby, on the digital map they used for tracking, a warehouse appeared.Leon and his men approached cautiously, weapons ready.The warehouse was old and deteriorating, its metal walls rusted from years of exposure to the elements.They found the entrance and moved inside, sweeping the space methodically.It was empty except for debris and scattered equipment.Then Leon spotted it.John's phone lying on the concrete floor.The screen was still on, still displaying the message that had been sent to Duane."National kings should learn borders."The fact that the screen was still active meant whatever happened here was re
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Four - Phase Two
The following morning, about a thousand journalists trooped outside the most prestigious hospital in the city. News vans lined the streets. Reporters stood with microphones ready. Cameras pointed at every entrance and exit. But no one was allowed inside. Leon stood at the main entrance, his expression cold and unresponsive. "Can you tell us what happened to Duane Wordsworth?" Leon said nothing. "Is he alive? Is he being treated here?" Leon remained silent, a wall of immovable resistance. The journalists continued shouting questions, but Leon simply waited for them to tire. Soon, Catherine arrived in her Ferrari, cutting through the crowd of reporters. She parked and immediately approached Leon. "What happened?" she asked, her voice tight with concern. Leon gestured for her to follow him inside. They walked through empty hallways, the hospital eerily quiet except for their footsteps. "Theodore was found at an abandoned airfield," Leon began, explaining everyt
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Five- Twitch
The nation remained fixated on Duane's condition. Every major news network had a dedicated segment covering the attack on Aureom Consortium's founder. News stations camped outside the hospital day and night, their satellite trucks creating a small city of media presence. Social media exploded with theories and speculation. Conspiracy theories spread about who was responsible. Some blamed government agencies. Others pointed to rival corporations. A few even suggested international terrorism. The truth remained unknown, hidden behind hospital walls and media silence. Inside the hospital, Catherine barely left Duane's bedside. She sat in a chair positioned right next to his bed, watching his chest rise and fall with each mechanical breath. The monitors beeped steadily, their rhythm becoming a constant companion to her vigil. Hours passed. Days blended together. At one point, without thinking about it, Catherine reached out and held Duane's hand. Her fingers int
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Six - Family
The doctors rushed into the ward immediately after Catherine raised the alarm.They moved with controlled efficiency, their years of medical training evident in every precise movement.One doctor checked the monitors while another examined Duane's eyes with a light, looking for pupil response.A nurse adjusted the IV drips, checking fluid levels and medication dosages.Outside in the hallway, Leon and John waited anxiously, their faces reflecting the tension of the moment.Neither spoke, both lost in their own thoughts about what the doctors might find.Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as the medical team worked silently around Duane's unconscious body.Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, one of the doctors stepped out of the ward.His expression was carefully neutral, giving nothing away."His condition has stabilized slightly," the doctor said, his voice measured and professional.Leon and John both leaned forward immediately."What does that mean exactly?" Leon
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Seven - Days
At Aureom Headquarters, Catherine and Alfred temporarily stabilized company operations while emergency meetings were held with executives, investors, and government partners.The conference room was filled with anxious faces, all trying to process what had happened and what it meant for their organization.Catherine sat at the head of the table, her composure held together by sheer force of will.Alfred sat beside her, his calm presence helping to steady the room."Our priority is maintaining operational continuity," Catherine said firmly. "Aureom Consortium was built by multiple people. We don't collapse because one person is injured."An executive from the financial division spoke up. "But Duane Wordsworth is the face of this organization. Investors trust him specifically.""Then we remind them that Aureom is larger than any single person," Catherine replied.Meanwhile, Leon focused entirely on security and investigation matters surrounding the attack.He coordinated with law enforc
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Eight - Wrong
Later in the evening, John secretly contacted Charlie again using a hidden device he'd managed to keep hidden from his captors. His hands shook as he typed the message into an encrypted chat. "Were you behind the attack on Duane?" The response came quickly. "No. Why would you ask that?" John's heart raced. "Because Duane was almost killed. His family was taken. Military-grade explosives were used." There was a pause before Charlie's next message appeared. "We weren't responsible. You know our methods. We manipulate. We pressure. We gather intelligence. We don't conduct reckless bombings." John stared at the screen, processing this information. If Black Ledger wasn't behind the attack, then who was? That answer disturbed John even more than he could articulate. If Black Ledger wasn't responsible, then someone even more dangerous had entered the game. Someone with military resources and the willingness to use them. Someone operating outside the normal rules of business com
Chapter One Hundred and Forty Nine - Away
The silence after Duane's question was unbearable.It stretched through the hospital room like a physical weight, pressing down on everyone present.Finally, Leon stepped forward and delivered the information Duane desperately needed to hear, even though he wouldn't like it."Your mother and Maya were abducted during the attack on the mansion," Leon said, his voice steady despite the gravity of the words.Duane's entire body went rigid.John added quickly, "The attackers were highly organized. They knew exactly where to go, exactly how to extract them, and they disappeared before security forces could react.""How is that possible?" Duane demanded. "I had security. Guards. Protection.""They were better prepared than we were," Leon replied. "Better equipped. Better trained."For the first time in years, Duane looked shaken.Not angry or calculating, but genuinely shaken by the loss of control over the situation.His hands trembled slightly as he processed the information.Without warn
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty - Solve
By morning, the abduction of Duane's family had exploded across national media.Every news network led with the story."Aureom Consortium CEO's Family Kidnapped in Coordinated Attack""Wordsworth Family Missing as Investigation Expands""National Security Threat: Organized Abduction of Business Leader's Relatives"Government officials condemned the attack publicly, their statements carefully worded to express concern while avoiding any direct acknowledgment of their own investigative failures.Security agencies launched investigations under immense pressure from multiple directions.The FBI opened a federal case.The CIA became involved due to the military-grade explosives.Local law enforcement coordinated with state authorities.Everyone wanted answers, and they wanted them quickly.At Aureom Headquarters, executives struggled to maintain stability as investors panicked again.Stock prices dropped further.Contract renewals were postponed indefinitely.Partners distanced themselves